Date: Wed, 3 Jan 1996 11:56:12 -0500
From: Jesse T Sheidlower
Subject: Re: new word?
> I have recently heard a word I presume to be Black English, though
> reported by a white. Does anyone know the derivation/etymology
> or even the meaning of the following : huji/hoojie? It is supposed
> to refer to whites.
This is a Black E variant of _hoosier._ The earliest example I
know of is from ca1970 in DARE s.v. hoosier 1.b., showing this
pronunciation phonetically. We have scattered examples since
then. Note that C. Major in _Juba to Jive_ suggests dates of
1940s-60s, and while this is not improbable, Major is extremely
unreliable for this sort of thing. It does mean 'white person',
and the evidence shows contemptuous use.
Jesse Sheidlower
Random House Reference